Like it or not people hitch-hike and generally a satchel of some sort is essential to the trek but more often than not a back-pack is worn.
If you've done much hitch-hiking you probably clued in to the fact that people are more inclined to pick you up if;
A) You have a sign indicating longer destinations and,
B) You are walking backwards with your thumb out as the car approaches you.

The Hitch-hiker-helper is a pull cord released inflatable head and extended arm with raised thumb add-on designed to attach to any standard back-pack which allows a hitch-hiker to continue walking forward without offending reluctant potential ride offering motorists by not turning around.
The potential ride offerer, seeing an inflatable hitch-hiker as they draw near, is likely to be amused by this and therefore more likely to pull over for a hiker that they know at least has a sense of humor.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 06 2012

+ very good- here's a similar idea Hitch_20Hiker_27s_20Giant_20Foam_20Thumb
[xandram, Feb 06 2012]

I pick up hitchers all the time, and I can honestly say that making me laugh is a sure way to get me to stop, although I can't remember the last time I saw a hitcher who didn't bother to turn around. Then again, I live in a place where it's still relatively safe to hitch-hike, and thus fairly common. There's a sort of etiquette to it here that I fear may be lost in other parts of the world.
-- Alterother, Feb 06 2012


Brilliant, [2 fries]!! I imagine this would be useful for hailing taxicabs as well. [+]

BTW, your summary cracked me up...
-- Grogster, Feb 06 2012


I love it. I got a lot of rides in the seventies, and I pay them back whenever I get the chance. This would work well.
-- normzone, Feb 06 2012


In some Russian cities, it's local custom for car owners to pick up strangers and pay them a few bucks, like impromptu taxis.
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 06 2012


Sourdough bun.

Now how do you do the same thing for couch surfers?
-- Psalm_97, Feb 06 2012


I thumbed it! [+]
-- xandram, Feb 06 2012


//it's local custom for car owners to pick up strangers and pay them a few bucks// Wow - I hadn't realized Russian motorists were so generous!
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 06 2012


Tis brilliant. And this comes from someone who hitchhiked from Illinois to the south western beaches of Mexico. I'd give you more than one bun if I could. (God those crazy old days of yore.)
-- blissmiss, Feb 06 2012


Yeah, I'm always amused by the "it's so much more dangerous now" talk. I think it's always been the same, but there's more media now.

People are people. Cars are smaller, that does make it harder to pick up people and packs.
-- normzone, Feb 07 2012


Last time I picked up a hitcher, she'd been riding in silence for ten minutes before I realized that my (sheathed) Ka- Bar was sitting on the dashboard in front of her. We had a good laugh about it after I carefully asked her to put it in the back seat next to the hatchet and the chainsaw.

Anyone who gets into my truck is guaranteed an interesting ride, but I try to avoid actually terrorizing them.
-- Alterother, Feb 07 2012


That's funny, [Alterother]. I can picture her trying to decide how to respond to that.

I got a cross-town ride once from a guy with a sawed-off shotgun in the front seat. I was not silent, but probably should have been since I was 17 and tactless.
-- normzone, Feb 07 2012



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